A method of covering a pot wherein the cover is a flattened sleeve which comprises a base portion tapered to fit a pot and may have a skirt having an edge and having a lower end having excess material therein for forming a bottom. The cover may be bondingly connected to or crimped about the pot.
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5. A method of wrapping a potted plant, comprising the steps of:
providing a potted plant comprising a pot and a floral grouping disposed in the pot, the pot having a lower end, an upper rim and an outer peripheral surface; providing a sleeve comprising: a lower portion having an upper end, a base portion sized to contain and surround the pot, a lower end, an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the lower portion having a flattened state wherein the base portion of the lower portion is tapered and wherein the lower portion of the sleeve is openable from the flattened state to an opened position wherein the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion defines and encompasses an inner retaining space, an opening being formed through the upper end of the lower portion in communication with the inner retaining space, and an upper portion connected to the upper end of the lower portion along a non-linear detaching element; separating the lower portion of the sleeve from the upper portion by tearing along the non-linear detaching element and thereby forming a non-linear upper peripheral edge of the lower portion of the sleeve; opening the lower portion of the sleeve into the opened position thereby exposing the inner retaining space of the lower portion; and disposing the potted plant in the inner retaining space of the lower portion of the sleeve with the lower end of the pot positioned upon the lower end of the lower portion of the sleeve whereby the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion of the sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot.
7. A method of wrapping a potted plant, comprising steps of:
providing a potted plant comprising a pot and a floral grouping disposed in the pot, the pot having a lower end, an upper rim and an outer peripheral surface; providing a sleeve comprising: a lower portion having an upper end, a lower end, an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the lower portion having a flattened state wherein at least a portion of the lower portion is tapered and wherein the lower portion of the sleeve is openable from the flattened state to an opened position wherein the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion defines and encompasses an inner retaining space, an opening being formed through the upper end of the lower portion in communication with the inner retaining space, and an upper portion connected to the upper end of the lower portion along a non-linear detaching element; and opening the lower portion of the sleeve into the opened position, thereby exposing the inner retaining space of the lower portion; and disposing the potted plant in the inner retaining space of the lower portion of the sleeve having the upper portion, with the lower end of the pot positioned upon the lower end of the lower portion of the sleeve whereby the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion of the sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot, wherein the upper portion of the sleeve is detachable from the lower portion by tearing along the non-linear detaching element after the potted plant is disposed in the sleeve, thereby forming a non-linear upper peripheral edge of the lower portion of the sleeve.
1. A method of wrapping a potted plant, comprising the steps of:
providing a potted plant comprising a pot and a floral grouping disposed in the pot, the pot having a lower end, an upper rim and an outer peripheral surface; providing a sleeve comprising: a lower portion having an upper end, a base portion sized to contain and surround the pot, a lower end, an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the lower portion having a flattened state wherein the base portion of the lower portion is tapered and wherein the lower portion of the sleeve is openable from the flattened state to an opened position wherein the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion defines and encompasses an inner retaining space, an opening being formed through the upper end of the lower portion in communication with the inner retaining space, and the sleeve having a gusset in the lower end thereof which is unfoldable in the opened position of the lower portion, and an upper portion connected to the upper end of the lower portion along a non-linear detaching element; separating the lower portion of the sleeve from the upper portion of the sleeve by tearing along the non-linear detaching element thereby forming a non-linear upper peripheral edge on the lower portion of the sleeve; opening the lower portion of the sleeve into the opened position thereby exposing the inner retaining space of the lower portion; and disposing the potted plant in the inner retaining space of the lower portion of the sleeve with the lower end of the pot positioned upon the lower end of the lower portion whereby the lower portion of the sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot.
3. A method of wrapping a potted plant, comprising the steps of:
providing a potted plant comprising a pot and a floral grouping disposed in the pot, the pot having a lower end, an upper rim and an outer peripheral surface; providing a sleeve comprising: a lower portion having an upper end, a lower end, an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the lower portion having a flattened state wherein at least a portion of the lower portion is tapered and wherein the lower portion of the sleeve is openable from the flattened state to an opened position wherein the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion defines and encompasses an inner retaining space, an opening being formed through the upper end of the lower portion in communication with the inner retaining space, and the sleeve having a gusset in the lower end thereof which is unfoldable in the opened position of the lower portion, and an upper portion connected to the upper end of the lower portion along a non-linear detaching element; opening the lower portion of the sleeve into the opened position thereby exposing the inner retaining space of the lower portion; and disposing the potted plant in the inner retaining space of the lower portion of the sleeve having the upper portion, with the lower end of the pot positioned upon the lower end of the lower portion of the sleeve whereby the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion surrounds at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot, and wherein the upper portion of the sleeve is detachable from the lower portion by tearing along the non-linear detaching element after the potted plant is disposed in the sleeve, thereby forming a non-linear upper peripheral edge of the lower portion of the sleeve.
2. The method of
4. The method of
6. The method of
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The present application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/443,441, filed Nov. 19, 1999; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/990,153, filed Dec. 12, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,503; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/778,401, filed Jan. 2, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,657; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/459,923, filed Jun. 2, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,535; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/237,078, filed May 3, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,979; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/220,852, filed Mar. 31, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,851.
This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/940,930 Sep. 4, 1992 U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,482.
This invention generally relates to sleeves, and, more particularly, to sleeves used to wrap flower pots containing floral groupings and/or mediums containing floral groupings, and methods of using same.
The present invention contemplates a plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve portion can be detached from the decorative cover portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve portion has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover portion and allowing the skirt to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve portion and decorative cover portion may be of unitary construction or may be separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.
More specifically, the present invention contemplates a plant cover for covering a pot having an outer peripheral surface. The plant cover comprises (1) a base portion having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an area of excess material for allowing extension of a portion of the base portion and having an opening extending from the upper end to the lower end, and (2) an upper portion extending from the upper end of the base portion and detachable therefrom, and wherein when the upper portion is detached from the upper end of the base portion, the area of excess material expands causing portions of the base portion to extend angularly from the base. In general, the base portion is sized to substantially cover the outer peripheral surface of the pot. The upper portion may be detachable via a detaching element such as perforations, tear strips and zippers. The plant cover may have an extended portion extending from the upper portion for serving as a handle or support device.
More particularly, the present invention may be a plant cover comprising (1) a base portion having a lower end, an upper end, and an outer peripheral surface and having an opening extending from the upper end to the lower end, (2) an upper portion extending from the upper end of the base portion and detachable therefrom, (3) and an expansion element integral to the base portion and optionally integral to the upper portion, for allowing expansion of a portion of the base portion into a skirt portion extending angularly from the base portion when the upper portion is detached from the upper end of the base portion. The expansion element may be a plurality of vertical pleats, a plurality of vertical folds each having a Z-shaped cross section, a plurality of vertical accordion-type folds, or other similar types of expandable forms.
More particularly, the plant cover may comprise (1) a base portion having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and having an opening extending from the upper end to the lower end, (2) a skirt portion attached to the base portion and having an upper end and extending a distance beyond the upper end of the base portion, (3) an expansion element integral to at least one of the skirt portion and the base portion for enabling at least a portion of the skirt portion to be extended angularly from the base portion, and (4) an upper portion attached to the upper end of the skirt portion and detachable therefrom, and wherein when the upper portion is detached from the upper end of the skirt portion, the expansion element enables the skirt portion to be extended angularly from the base portion.
The present invention further contemplates a tubular sleeve for containing a pot assembly, and having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space. The tubular sleeve may comprise (1) a base portion having a lower end and an upper end and a retaining space for enclosing the pot assembly, and sized to substantially cover the pot assembly, (2) a skirt portion extending beyond the upper end of the base portion and continuous therewith and having an upper peripheral edge, and (3) an upper portion having an upper peripheral edge and a lower peripheral edge, the lower peripheral edge connected to the upper peripheral edge of the skirt portion and detachable therefrom and extending a distance therefrom, and sized to substantially surround and encompass a floral grouping, and wherein when the upper portion is detached from the upper peripheral edge of the skirt portion, the skirt portion extends angularly from the base portion.
The tubular sleeve may further comprise an expansion element integral to at least one of the skirt portion and the base portion for enhancing the angular extension of at least a portion of the skirt portion away from the base portion. The base portion and the skirt portion may be constructed from a first material and the upper portion may be constructed from a second material different from the first material.
The tubular sleeve may form part of a plant package when used in conjunction with a pot assembly disposed within the retaining space of the base portion of the tubular sleeve, the pot assembly having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the pot assembly is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the base portion and the floral grouping is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the upper portion.
The present invention further contemplates a plant cover comprising, (1) a base portion having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and having an opening extending from the upper end to the lower end, (2) a skirt portion attached to the base portion and extending a distance beyond the upper end of the base portion, and (3) an upper portion connected to the outer peripheral surface of the base portion and extending from the upper end of the base portion and detachable therefrom and substantially surrounding the skirt portion, and wherein when the upper portion is detached from the upper end of the base portion, the skirt portion is exposed allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base portion. Further, the base portion may comprise a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the upper portion. Also, the base portion may comprise a bonding material for bondingly connecting to a pot disposed therein. Further, the upper portion may comprise a bonding material for bondingly connecting to the base portion. The plant cover may further comprise part of a plant package which includes a pot disposed within the inner retaining space of the base portion, the pot having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the base portion and the floral grouping is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the upper portion.
The present invention further contemplates a plant cover comprising (1) a tubular sleeve having a lower end, an upper end, an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface surrounding an inner retaining space, and further comprising (a) a base portion for enclosing a pot, the base portion having an upper end and a lower end and sized to substantially cover the outer peripheral surface of the pot, and (b) an upper portion having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end detachably connected to the upper end of the base portion and extending a distance therefrom, and wherein the upper portion is sized to substantially surround and encompass a floral grouping disposed within the pot, and (2) a skirt portion positioned within the tubular sleeve and having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end attached to the inner peripheral surface of the base portion, the upper end of the skirt portion freely extending a distance beyond the upper end of the base portion and substantially surrounded and encompassed by the upper portion and wherein when the upper portion is detached from the upper end of the base portion, the skirt portion is exposed allowing the skirt portion to be extended angularly from the upper end of the base portion.
The base portion and the skirt portion of the tubular sleeve may be constructed from a first material and the upper portion constructed from a second material different from the first material. The base portion and the upper portion of the tubular sleeve may be constructed from a first material and the skirt portion constructed from a second material different from the first material. The plant cover may comprise a portion of a plant package which additionally comprises a pot disposed within the tubular sleeve, the pot having a floral grouping disposed therein, and wherein the pot is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the base portion and the floral grouping is substantially surrounded and encompassed by the upper portion.
These embodiments and others of the present invention are now described in more detail below.
The Embodiments and Methods of Use of
Shown in FIG. 1 and designated therein by the general reference numeral 10 is a flexible bag or sleeve of unitary construction. The sleeve 10 initially comprises a flexible flat collapsed piece of material which is openable in the form of a tube or sleeve. The sleeve 10 may be tapered outwardly from the lower end toward a larger diameter at its upper end. In its flattened state the sleeve 10 has an overall trapezoidal or modified trapezoidal shape, and when opened is substantially frusto-conical to coniform. It will be appreciated, however, that the sleeve 10 may comprise variations on the aforementioned shapes or may comprise significantly altered shapes such as square or rectangular, wherein the sleeve 10 when opened has a cylindrical form, as long as the sleeve 10 functions in accordance with the present invention in the manner described herein.
The sleeve 10 has an upper end 12, a lower end 14, an outer peripheral surface 16 and in its flattened state has a first side 18 and a second side 20. The sleeve 10 has an opening 21 (
The sleeve 10 is generally frusto-conically shaped, but the sleeve 10 may be, by way of example but not by way of limitation, cylindrical, frusto-conical, a combination of both frusto-conical and cylindrical, or any other shape, as long as the sleeve 10 functions as described herein as noted above. Further, the sleeve 10 may comprise any shape, whether geometric, non-geometric, asymmetrical and/or fanciful as long as it functions in accordance with the present invention. The sleeve 10 may also be equipped with drains or ventilation holes (not shown), or can be made from permeable or impermeable materials.
The material from which the sleeve 10 is constructed has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils. Often, the thickness of the sleeve 10 is in a range from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils. Preferably, the sleeve 10 has a thickness in a range from about 1.0 mil to about 5 mils. More preferably, the sleeve 10 is constructed from a material which is flexible, semi-rigid, rigid, or any combination thereof. The sleeve 10 may be constructed of a single layer of material or a plurality of layers of the same or different types of materials. Any thickness of the material may be utilized as long as the material functions in accordance with the present invention as described herein. The layers of material comprising the sleeve 10 may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. Such materials used to construct the sleeve 10 are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637 entitled "Method For Wrapping A Floral Grouping" issued to Weder et al., on May 12, 1992, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. Any thickness of material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention as long as the sleeve 10 may be formed as described herein, and as long as the formed sleeve 10 may contain at least a portion of a pot 32 or the potted plant 30 or a floral grouping, as described herein. Additionally, an insulating material such as bubble film, preferable as one of two or more layers, can be utilized in order to provide additional protection for the item, such as the floral grouping, contained therein.
In one embodiment, the sleeve 10 may be constructed from two polypropylene films. The material comprising the sleeve 10 may be connected together or laminated or may be separate layers. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve 10 may be constructed from only one of the polypropylene films.
The sleeve 10 may also be constructed, in whole or in part, from a cling material. "Cling Wrap or Material" when used herein means any material which is capable of connecting to the sheet of material and/or itself upon contacting engagement during the wrapping process and is wrappable about an item whereby portions of the cling material contactingly engage and connect to other portions of another material, or, alternatively, itself, for generally securing the material wrapped about at least a portion of the pot 32. This connecting engagement is preferably temporary in that the material may be easily removed, i.e., the cling material "clings" to the pot 32.
The cling material is constructed and treated if necessary, from polyethylene such as Cling Wrap made by Glad®, First Brands Corporation, Danbury, Conn. The thickness of the cling material will, in part, depend upon the size of sleeve 10 and the size of the pot 32 in the sleeve 10, i.e., generally, a larger pot 32 may require a thicker and therefore stronger cling material. The cling material will range in thickness from less than about 0.1 mil to about 10 mils, and preferably less than about 0.5 mil to about 2.5 mils and most preferably from less than about 0.6 mil to about 2 mils. However, any thickness of cling material may be utilized in accordance with the present invention which permits the cling material to function as described herein.
The sleeve 10 is constructed from any suitable material that is capable of being formed into a sleeve and wrapped about the potted plant 30 or the pot 32. Preferably, the material comprises paper (untreated or treated in any manner), metal foil, polymeric film, non-polymeric film, fabric (woven or nonwoven or synthetic or natural), cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, or laminations or combinations thereof.
The term "polymeric film" means a material made of a synthetic polymer such as a polypropylene or a naturally occurring polymer such as cellophane. A polymeric film is relatively strong and not as subject to tearing (substantially non-tearable), as might be the case with paper or foil.
The material employed in the construction of the sleeve 10 may vary in color and may consist of designs or decorative patterns which are printed, etched, and/or embossed thereon using inks or other printing materials. An example of an ink which may be applied to the surface of the material is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,706 entitled "Water Based Ink On Foil And/Or Synthetic Organic Polymer" issued to Kingman on Sep. 15, 1992 and which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
In addition, the material may have various colorings, coatings, flocking and/or metallic finishes, or other decorative surface ornamentation applied separately or simultaneously or may be characterized totally or partially by pearlescent, translucent, transparent, iridescent, neon, or the like, qualities. Each of the above-named characteristics may occur alone or in combination and may be applied to the upper and/or lower surface of the material comprising the sleeve 10. Moreover, portions of the material used in constructing the sleeve 10 may vary in the combination of such characteristics. The material utilized for the sleeve 10 itself may be opaque, translucent, transparent, or partially clear or tinted transparent.
It will generally be desired to use the sleeve 10 as a covering for the potted plant 30 (FIG. 2). As shown in
The term "floral grouping" as used herein means cut fresh flowers, artificial flowers, a single flower or other fresh and/or artificial plants or other floral materials and may include other secondary plants and/or ornamentation or artificial or natural materials which add to the aesthetics of the overall floral grouping. The floral grouping 42 comprises a bloom or foliage portion and a stem portion. Further, the floral grouping 42 may comprise a growing potted plant having a root portion (not shown) as well. However, it will be appreciated that the floral grouping may consist of only a single bloom or only foliage, or a botanical item (not shown), or a propagule (not shown). The term "floral grouping" may be used interchangeably herein with both the terms "floral arrangement" and "potted plant". The term "floral grouping" may also be used interchangeably herein with the terms "botanical item" and/or "propagule."
The term "growing medium" when used herein means any liquid, solid or gaseous material used for plant growth or for the cultivation of propagules, including organic and inorganic materials such as soil, humus, perlite, vermiculite, sand, water, and including the nutrients, fertilizers or hormones or combinations thereof required by the plants or propagules for growth.
The term "botanical item" when used herein means a natural or artificial herbaceous or woody plant, taken singly or in combination. The term "botanical item" also means any portion or portions of natural or artificial herbaceous or woody plants including stems, leaves, flowers, blossoms, buds, blooms, cones, or roots, taken singly or in combination, or in groupings of such portions such as bouquet or floral grouping.
The term "propagule" when used herein means any structure capable of being propagated or acting as an agent of reproduction including seeds, shoots, stems, runners, tubers, plants, leaves, roots or spores.
In accordance with the present invention, a bonding material may be disposed on a portion of the sleeve 10 to assist in holding the sleeve 10 to the pot 32 having the floral grouping 42 therein when such a pot 32 is disposed within the sleeve 10 or to assist in closing the upper end 12 of the sleeve 10 or adhering the sleeve 10 to the pot 32 after the pot 32 has been disposed therein, as will be discussed in further detail below.
It will be understood that the bonding material may be disposed as a strip or block on a surface of the sleeve 10. The bonding material may also be disposed upon either the outer peripheral surface 16 or the inner peripheral surface 22 of the sleeve 10, as well as upon the pot 32. Further, the bonding material may be disposed as spots of bonding material, or in any other geometric, non-geometric, asymmetric, or fanciful form, and in any pattern including covering either the entire inner peripheral surface and/or outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 10 and/or the pot or pot cover. The bonding material may be covered by a cover or release strip which can be removed prior to the use of the sleeve, pot or pot cover. The bonding material can be applied by means known to those of ordinary skill in their art. One method for disposing a bonding material, in this case an adhesive, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637 entitled "Method For Wrapping A Floral Grouping" issued to Weder et al., on May 12, 1992, which has been incorporated by reference above.
The term "bonding material" when used herein means an adhesive, frequently a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive. When the bonding material is a cohesive, a similar cohesive material must be placed on the adjacent surface for bondingly contacting and bondingly engaging with the cohesive material. The term "bonding material" also includes materials which are heat sealable and, in this instance, the adjacent portions of the material must be brought into contact and then heat must be applied to effect the seal. The term "bonding material" also includes materials which are sonic sealable and vibratory sealable. The term "bonding material" when used herein also means a heat sealing lacquer or hot melt material which may be applied to the material and, in this instance, heat, sound waves, or vibrations, also must be applied to effect the sealing.
The term "bonding material" when used herein also means any type of material or thing which can be used to effect the bonding or connecting of the two adjacent portions of the material or sheet of material to effect the connection or bonding described herein. The term "bonding material" may also include ties, labels, bands, ribbons, strings, tapes (including single or double-sided adhesive tapes), staples or combinations thereof. Some of the bonding materials would secure the ends of the material while other bonding material may bind the circumference of a wrapper, or a sleeve, or, alternatively and/or in addition, the bonding materials would secure overlapping folds in the material and/or sleeve. Another way to secure the wrapping and/or sleeve is to heat seal the ends of the material to another portion of the material. One way to do this is to contact the ends with an iron of sufficient heat to heat seal the material.
Alternatively, a cold seal adhesive may be utilized as the bonding material. The cold seal adhesive adheres only to a similar substrate, acting similarly as a cohesive, and binds only to itself. The cold seal adhesive, since it bonds only to a similar substrate, does not cause a residue to build up on equipment, thereby both permitting much more rapid disposition and use of such equipment to form articles and reducing labor costs. Further, since no heat is required to effect the seal, the dwell time, that is, the time for the sheet of material to form and retain the shape of an article, such as a flower pot cover or flower pot, is reduced. A cold seal adhesive binds quickly and easily with minimal pressure, and such a seal is not readily releasable. This characteristic is different from, for example, a pressure sensitive adhesive.
The term "bonding material" when used herein also means any heat or chemically shrinkable material, and static electrical or other electrical materials, chemical welding materials, magnetic materials, mechanical or barb-type fastening materials or clamps, curl-type characteristics of the film or materials incorporated in material which can cause the material to take on certain shapes, cling films, slots, grooves, shrinkable materials and bands, curl materials, springs, and any type of welding method which may weld portions of the material to itself or to the pot, or to both the material itself and the pot.
Certain versions of the sleeve 10 described herein may be used in conjunction with a preformed plant cover as explained in greater detail below.
As shown in
In a preferred embodiment, as shown in
The upper portion 44 of the sleeve 10 may also have an additional detaching element 54 indicated as a plurality of vertical perforations for facilitating removal of the upper portion 44 and which are disposed more or less vertically therein extending between the detaching element 48 and the upper end 12 of the sleeve 10. The upper portion 44 of the sleeve 10 is separable from the lower portion 46 of the sleeve 10 by tearing the upper portion 44 along both the detaching element 54 and the detaching element 48, thereby separating the upper portion 44 from the lower portion 46 of the sleeve 10. The lower portion 46 of the sleeve 10 remains disposed as the base portion 50 about the pot 32 and as the skirt portion 52 about the floral grouping 42 forming a decorative cover 56 as shown in
It will be understood that equipment and devices for forming floral sleeves are commercially available, and are well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
As noted above, the sleeve 10 may have an open or closed lower end 14. When the lower end 14 is closed the lower end 14 may have one or more gussets 60 formed therein such as that seen in sleeve 10a in
In another version of the present invention, shown in
In yet another version of the present invention, shown in
In another embodiment, shown in
Other versions of the present invention shown in
Similarly, sleeve 10i in
Sleeve 10j, shown in
Embodiments and Methods of Use of
Attention is now drawn to the sleeve shown in
The sleeve portion 106 extends from and is attached to the upper end 120 of the skirt portion 104 and is detachable therefrom via a detaching element 122 such as one described in detail above. The expansion element 108 is integral to at least one of the base portion 102 and the skirt portion 104 and may extend into the sleeve portion 106 as shown in FIG. 21. The expansion element 108 functions to allow expansion of a portion of the skirt portion 104 of the sleeve 100 into a skirt 124, such as the skirt 124 of a decorative cover 126 formed therefrom and shown in
As shown in
Shown in
Attention is now drawn to FIG. 25 and to the sleeve shown therein which is designated by the general reference numeral 100b. Sleeve 100b is exactly the same as sleeve 100 except that the sleeve 100b has a plurality of Z-shaped expansion elements 108b. As for expansion element 108 of sleeve 100, the expansion elements 108b of sleeve 100b can expand causing portions of a skirt portion 104b to extend angularly from a base portion 102b forming a skirt 124b in a decorative cover 126b about a portion of the floral grouping 42 of the potted plant 30 as shown in FIG. 26.
Similarly, shown in
Attention is now drawn to FIG. 29 and to the sleeve shown therein which is designated by the general reference numeral 100d. Sleeve 100d is exactly the same as sleeve 100 except that the sleeve 100d has a plurality of fluted or groove-shaped expansion elements 108d. As for expansion element 108 of sleeve 100, the expansion elements 108d of sleeve 100d can expand causing portions of a skirt portion 104d to extend angularly from a base portion 102d forming a skirt 124d of a decorative cover 126d about a portion of the floral grouping 42 of the potted plant 30 as shown in FIG. 30.
Similarly, shown in
It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the shapes of the expansion elements described above are but several of the shapes which can be contemplated for the present invention. Other shapes which may be contemplated are gussets, fans, and "accordion-folds" to name but a few.
Each of the sleeves 100-100e may further comprise a support extension 130 which extends away from a portion of the upper end of the sleeve such as for the sleeve 100f as shown in FIG. 33. The support extension 130 has one or more apertures 132 disposed therein for allowing the sleeve 100f to be supported on a support assembly 134 which may comprise, for example, a pair of wickets 136 for shipment, storage, assembly of the sleeve 100f, placement of a pot within the sleeve 100f, or other functions known in the art. The support extension 130 may have a plurality of perforations 138 or other detaching elements for allowing the support extension 130 to be removed from the sleeve 100f after the sleeve 100f has been provided for use as described elsewhere herein. In another version of the invention, and applicable to any of the sleeves described above, or elsewhere herein, shown in
As noted above, the protective sleeve and decorative cover components of the present invention may comprise a unitary construction, as described in the versions of the invention exemplified in
For example, the invention may comprise, in one series of embodiments, a sleeve-cover combination and a method for packaging a pot or potted plant. In the method, a preformed decorative plant cover is provided. The plant cover has a bonding material disposed upon a portion of its inner peripheral surface for bonding the cover to the outer peripheral surface of a pot. In one embodiment, a bonding material is also disposed upon a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot. In the case where a decorative cover is provided which does not have a bonding material disposed on the inner peripheral surface thereof, a pot having a bonding material disposed upon a portion of the outer peripheral surface thereof is provided for bonding to a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the decorative cover. The pot is inserted into the pot retaining space of the preformed pot cover whereby the bonding material engages the inner peripheral surface of the cover and bondingly connects the outer peripheral surface of the pot thereto providing a covered pot.
In the next step of the method, a sleeve portion is provided for applying to the covered pot for providing protection to the plant already, or soon to be, disposed within the retaining space of the pot. The sleeve portion is preferably an open-ended, frusto-conically shaped, or semi frusto-conically shaped, tube similar to sleeves well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. The sleeve may be free of any bonding material disposed thereon, or a bonding material may be disposed on a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve, preferably near the lower end of the sleeve. The sleeve is opened and the covered pot, as described, is deposited into the inner retaining space of the sleeve. As noted above, the decorative cover which covers the pot may have a bonding material disposed upon a portion of the outer peripheral surface thereof.
In one version of the method, a covered pot free of any externally-disposed bonding material is deposited into a sleeve having a bonding material disposed on a portion of the inner peripheral surface thereof. As the covered pot is moved downwardly into the sleeve, the bonding material on the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve engages a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the cover causing the sleeve to be bondingly connected to the cover disposed about the covered plant. Preferably, the sleeve bondingly engages a portion of the cover near the upper end of the base portion of the cover yet below the skirt portion of the cover to allow free extension of the skirt portion of the cover.
In an alternative version of the invention, as noted above, the bonding material may be disposed on the outer surface of the cover of the covered pot while the sleeve may be free of a bonding material. In this case, when the covered pot is disposed into the open sleeve, the bonding material on the outer peripheral surface of the cover engages a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve causing the sleeve to be bondingly connected to the cover of the covered plant. Again, preferably the sleeve bondingly engages a portion of the cover near the upper end of the base portion of the cover yet below the skirt portion of the cover.
In yet another version of the method of the present invention, the bonding material may be disposed on both the outer surface of the covered pot and the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve. In such a case, preferably the bonding material both of the cover and the sleeve is a cohesive which allows bonding to itself but not to dissimilar surfaces. The embodiments of the sleeve/cover combination or package briefly described above are described in more detail below in relation to
Embodiments of
Attention is now drawn to the embodiments of the present invention as shown in
As indicated in
Shown in
Sleeve 182 further comprises lateral perforations 200 and vertical perforations 202 for allowing detachment of an upper portion of the sleeve 182. Perforations 202 may also represent other forms of detaching elements for detaching the upper portion of the sleeve 182.
Shown in
Shown in
Shown in
Embodiments of
Shown in
Shown in
Shown in
Shown in
Shown in
Shown in
Embodiments of
Shown in FIG. 56 and represented by the general reference numeral 238 is a sleeve/plant package comprising a pot 240 and a sleeve 242. The sleeve 242 has an outer peripheral surface 244, an inner peripheral surface 246, a lower end 248, an upper end 250, a plurality of perforations 252 and an inner bonding material 254 disposed on a portion of the inner peripheral surface 246 thereof. The inner bonding material 254 serves to bondingly connect the lower end 248 of the sleeve 242 to a portion of the pot 240, preferably an upper end of the pot 240. It will also be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the object as represented by the pot 240 could also be a pot covered with a decorative pot cover as described elsewhere herein. In that case the bonding material 254 on the sleeve 242 would bondingly connect the inner peripheral surface 246 of the sleeve 242 to a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the decorative cover surrounding the pot 240.
An alternative embodiment of a sleeve 242a of a sleeve/plant package 238a is shown in FIG. 57. In this embodiment of the sleeve/plant package 238a, the sleeve 242a has no bonding material thereon. Instead, a bonding material 256a is disposed on a portion of an outer peripheral surface 241a of a pot 240a for bondingly connecting the sleeve 242a to the pot 240a. An additional embodiment is represented in
Shown in
An alternate version of a sleeve as used in the present invention is shown in
Shown in
Embodiments of
Another version of the present invention and its use thereof is shown in
In an alternative embodiment of a sleeve/cover combination, a sleeve having a skirt portion attached therein is shown in
Embodiments of
In yet another version of the present invention rather than providing a preformed pot cover, a sheet of material may be provided for forming a cover about a pot. In an embodiment as shown in
In an alternate version of the invention shown in
In an alternative version of the present invention, as shown in
Another version of the invention, as shown in
It should also be noted that for all versions of preformed covers and sheets of material described above and elsewhere herein, an additional bonding material may be disposed either on the outer surface of the cover, the inner surface of the cover, or both the outer and inner surfaces of the cover for allowing portions of the cover to be crimpingly connected to the pot in exactly the same manner as described elsewhere herein. Further, in each of these versions described herein the sleeve which is bondingly connected to the cover comprises a detaching element as described earlier for allowing the sleeve or portion thereof to be detached from the cover thereby exposing the skirt portion of the base of the cover or another portion of the base and allowing the portion thereby exposed to extend angularly from the base of the cover. Further, in any of the versions of the present invention described herein, it may be desirable to have a cover strip covering the bonding material disposed on any portion of the object for preventing the bonding material from bonding to a surface until the desired time. Further in each of the cases described herein wherein a sleeve is applied to a pot or a covered pot, the sleeve may be applied thereto either by depositing the pot or covered pot downwardly into the open retaining space of the sleeve, or the sleeve may be brought upwardly about the pot or covered pot from below the pot or covered pot as shown for example using the pedestal of
It should be further noted that features of the versions of the present invention shown in
Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of the various components, elements and assemblies described herein or in the steps or the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
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